VinFast VF 8 – Electric Car Review

Overview – VinFast VF 8

Vietnamese automaker, VinFast, plans to enter the US electric vehicle (EV) market with its upcoming VF8 SUV, which is expected to be produced at the company’s 2000-acre factory in North Carolina. The VinFast VF 8 will be a midsize crossover electric vehicle, designed to compete with the Nissan Ariya, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Volkswagen ID4, and will come in two battery pack configurations with comparable size to the Ford Bronco.

Despite being an unfamiliar brand to most customers, the VF8 is expected to be a strong contender in the EV market, due to its powerful electric powertrain, luxurious amenities and generous driving range.

VinFast VF 8 – Energy And Carbon Efficiency

The VinFast VF 8 has a carbon emissions figure of 121 gCO2/mi, which is on the higher end of the spectrum. It is slightly higher than the Jaguar I-Pace EV400 at 111 gCO2/mi, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E SR AWD at 108 gCO2/mi. It is also higher than the average of the comparison vehicles at 101 gCO2/mi. However, it is still lower than the Audi SQ8 e-tron at 142 gCO2/mi, and the Lexus RZ 450e at 127 gCO2/mi.

EV Engine, Power and Performance

Every VF8 SUV features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric powertrain, with two electric motors producing up to 402 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. The base model can generate 348 horsepower with 369 pound-feet of torque. The VF8 can deliver up to 316 miles of driving on a single charge of its 90-kWh battery pack, and comes in two versions – the City Edition Eco provided with enough battery capacity for 207 miles of estimated driving range, and the City Edition Plus that can drive up to 179 miles per charge. The Eco and Plus models offer longer driving ranges of up to 260 and 248 miles, respectively.

Interior Comfort and Cargo Dimensions

The VF8 SUV is designed as a two-row, five-seater SUV with a stylish and minimalistic interior, featuring leather seating, two-tone materials, and push-button shifters integrated into the center console. The dashboard hosts a large horizontal touchscreen display that doubles as an infotainment system and digital gauge display, similar to that of Tesla’s cars. Pininfarina design handled the interior of the VF8, which offers a large sunroof and a frunk for extra cargo space when the maximum capacity of the rear hatch area is reached.

Infotainment, Tech and Connectivity

The VF8 touchscreen display serves as the car’s infotainment system and digital gauge display, featuring a voice assistant, onboard video games, and a head-up display to project critical data onto the windshield. The crossover features active safety features and uses a 360-degree camera system. There is no information yet about the vehicle’s infotainment and connectivity features, although the VF8 SUV offers an embed e-commerce service into its software.

Safety Features

All VF8 models are equipped with automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with lane centering, and blind-spot monitoring. However, the details regarding the vehicle’s safety features are still unclear, as VinFast has not announced any information regarding the matter. For more information, one can visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

Warranty Information

VinFast’s VF8 will offer a generous warranty package of up to 10 years/125,000 miles for its vehicles, including powertrain and battery components, according to a statement from the automaker. However, the company has not released any information yet about the VF8’s warranty.

VinFast VF 8 Negative Reviews

The vehicle has been receiving lots of negative feedback based on test-drive, even before its released it’s acquired a reputation as the worst testing car ever. We summarize below complaints:

1. Starting Procedure: The VF8 has a non-intuitive starting procedure. The driver must first put on the seatbelt, press the brake, and engage the drive gear. This could be confusing for those who are not familiar with the car.
2. Warning Chimes: The VF8 has an issue with numerous warning chimes, which activate frequently during a drive.
3. Blinkers and Reversing Judder: Side blinkers have problems and there is a judder when reversing.
4. Driving Aids: The VF8’s driving aids have been criticized for an aggressive lane-correction facility that unpredictably switches on and off.
5. Ride Comfort: The vehicle’s ride quality is subpar due to over-sprung, under-dampened suspension that resulted in a wallowy ride, causing the occupants to feel sick.
6. Acceleration: The accelerator pedal reacts slowly to presses and requires a couple of seconds to provide meaningful acceleration.
7. Battery Issue: Finally there is a much-discussed issue of the battery dying unexpectedly.

While new vehicles commonly have teething issues, the VF 8’s problems with comfort, handling, and driving aids appear significant.

Final Thoughts – VinFast VF 8

Although the exact pricing and full specifications of the VF8 SUV have not been released yet, the localization of manufacturing to the U.S. by 2024, and VinFast’s warranty coverage, are exciting prospects. However, the vehicle’s limited electric range and uncertainty about VinFast’s future in the American market is a potential drawback. VinFast is currently taking refundable deposits for the VF8 and aims first to start its dealer network with a series of locations in California before expanding to the rest of the country.

Staff Writer

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